The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: gmacp on February 14, 2011, 12:14:25 pm

Title: Sparrowhawk and Silkies
Post by: gmacp on February 14, 2011, 12:14:25 pm

Morning everyone,

Just a quick question - we have Sparrowhawks in the area - one killed a magpie in our garden yesterday. I was thinking of getting some silkies, but am worried they may be small enough for the sparrowhawk to take an interest in. Do you think it's a bad idea to get them - would they be attacked?

Cheers.

Title: Re: Sparrowhawk and Silkies
Post by: Womble on February 14, 2011, 12:47:37 pm

Blimey!  Anybody know where I can buy a sparrowhawk?  ;D

Title: Re: Sparrowhawk and Silkies
Post by: gmacp on February 14, 2011, 01:46:56 pm

It was pretty gross - head of the magpie was a a foot away from the body...lost count of the number of piles of pidgeon feathers I see in the paddock.

Title: Re: Sparrowhawk and Silkies
Post by: faith0504 on February 14, 2011, 01:56:32 pm

we have never had a problem here, we have sparrow hawks, kestrels and buzzards, my girls run for cover when the birds fly over but we have never lost one,
i hope you find an answer
good luck

Title: Re: Sparrowhawk and Silkies
Post by: Fleecewife on February 14, 2011, 03:18:15 pm

We have never lost an adult chicken to the sparrow hawk but various things have taken our chicks - including corvids, stoats etc, but probably the sparrow hawk too.  I'm glad they take magpies as I'm not very fond of them - they ripped out all our swallow nests one year.  We have some small breeds which are about the same size as a silkie, so they might be ok........... Sparrow hawks seem to prefer to take their prey from trees, hedgerows, hanging feeders etc as they are a bit clumsy close to the ground.

Title: Re: Sparrowhawk and Silkies
Post by: faith0504 on February 14, 2011, 03:30:34 pm

Sparrow hawks seem to prefer to take their prey from trees, hedgerows, hanging feeders etc as they are a bit clumsy close to the ground



thats really good to know thanks for that fleecewife  :wave:

Title: Re: Sparrowhawk and Silkies
Post by: shetlandpaul on February 14, 2011, 03:32:59 pm

still a netted run may be best.

Title: Re: Sparrowhawk and Silkies
Post by: gmacp on February 14, 2011, 04:12:29 pm

Thank you for the advice - think I may take my chances and get some.

Title: Re: Sparrowhawk and Silkies
Post by: sam.t on February 14, 2011, 04:37:45 pm

i have silkies and a sparrowhawk hanging around mine are in a enclosed run but it only gos for the pigeons never bothers the warrens and there pen not covered
sam :chook:

Title: Re: Sparrowhawk and Silkies
Post by: northfifeduckling on February 14, 2011, 05:25:17 pm

if they are free range they might have a go...we lost 3 ducklings to a sparrowhawk before we knew better , but never an adolescent or adult bird. Silkies are quite small, though... :&>

Title: Re: Sparrowhawk and Silkies
Post by: fizzgigg on February 14, 2011, 08:29:21 pm

thats some going for a sparrow hawk a friend of mine is a keen falconer, an ive done a bit myself your silies should be fine just keep your chicks under cover good luck